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March 24, 2026
烦恼(煩惱)fánnǎo(fan2nao3)
烦恼 (fán nǎo) refers to a state of worry or distress. It is commonly used to express feelings of anxiety about personal issues, work, or relationships, reflecting a mental burden or emotional turmoil.
Strokes19Frequency#3915DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing 烦恼 is often seen as a way to seek support from friends and family, highlighting the importance of community in coping with personal issues.
Memory Tip
Think of 烦 (fán) as a 'fan' blowing away your peace, while 恼 (nǎo) sounds like 'gnaw', as if worries are gnawing at your mind. Together, they paint a picture of relentless worries blowing your calm away.
Meanings of 烦恼
fánnǎo(fan2nao3)
1to be worried
2to be distressed
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About 烦恼
烦恼Simplified
煩惱Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3915Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 烦恼
Podcast: 烦恼
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AI Study Notes for 烦恼
Quick Contrast
忧虑 (yōulǜ) vs 担忧 (dānyōu) — use 烦恼 for more personal, emotional distress, while 忧虑 and 担忧 can imply a broader or more general concern.
Usage Notes
When using 烦恼, it's important to note that it conveys a sense of ongoing distress, rather than just a fleeting worry. Common collocations include '烦恼的事情' (troublesome things) and '减轻烦恼' (reduce worries). Be careful with the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 烦恼 connects to other emotions and mental states, such as 快乐 (kuài lè, happy) and 难过 (nán guò, sad). Students should focus on using it in context to describe personal feelings or situations that cause distress.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 烦恼 with the word 担心 (dān xīn, to worry) which is more about immediate concerns. For example, saying '我很担心事情' (Wǒ hěn dān xīn shìqíng) is incorrect when discussing ongoing emotional distress; use 烦恼 instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烦恼
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烦恼 (fán nǎo) refers to a state of worry or distress. It is commonly used to express feelings of anxiety about personal issues, work, or relationships, reflecting a mental burden or emotional turmoil.
When to use 烦恼
When using 烦恼, it's important to note that it conveys a sense of ongoing distress, rather than just a fleeting worry. Common collocations include '烦恼的事情' (troublesome things) and '减轻烦恼' (reduce worries). Be careful with the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
烦恼 or something close to it
忧虑 (yōulǜ) vs 担忧 (dānyōu) — use 烦恼 for more personal, emotional distress, while 忧虑 and 担忧 can imply a broader or more general concern.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 烦恼 with the word 担心 (dān xīn, to worry) which is more about immediate concerns. For example, saying '我很担心事情' (Wǒ hěn dān xīn shìqíng) is incorrect when discussing ongoing emotional distress; use 烦恼 instead.
Write 烦恼
烦
恼
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Grammar Patterns of 烦恼
烦恼 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
